Tuesday, 22 December 2015

After a few years of steadily declining House Sparrow numbers there seems to be an upturn in the numbers visiting the back garden. Currently there are about 12-14 regularly feeding on seed on the ground. A rare visitor for me was a male Chaffinch amongst the sparrows.

Sunday, 6 December 2015

This morning seemed just right for a stroll from Druridge Pools to Dru CP and back.
Dru Pools is nicely flooded again with lots of the usual birds about.
Along the track there were many new water flashes in the fields with large numbers of Curlew and Lapwing making the best of them. Stonechats appear on the bush tops every hundred yards or so, and it was nice to see a few Twite. The Druridge dunes Goldcrest flock also contained a few Chaffinch.
At E Chev burn outlet there was a strong flow of water turning it into a stream all the way to the sea.
About fifteen Ringed Plover with a few Sanderling were resting beside the burn.
In the NE corner of the East Chev North Pool an otter went about its hunting.
Numerous geese flocks went back and forth and a diver, unable to ident, flew north above sand dune tops
Walking back along the beach small groups of Sanderling scurried in the waters edge.
Back at Dru Pools a Short Eared Owl hunted.
Very nice.

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

This is the first year that I have kept a list of birds seen, prompted by friends asking how many I was likely spot.
This morning I was on 198 so with weather promising much I went to St Mary's Island wetland where there were loads of thrushes in the bushes. When I approached one of the wetland viewpoints a Woodcock (199) burst out of the hedge then provided a nice side on view. A further wander a Seaton Sluice brought more Fieldfare and Redwing and also a tweet re Black Redstart ( not on the list) at Tynemouth Pier.
So along to Tynemouth Pier and in the small triangle area of rocks between the pier and cliff were Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Robin, Pipit and finally as I was starting to give up hope, a Black Redstart.

Then there were two in sight, with the rain tipping down.
So that got me to 200 for the year. I know its nowt compared with the pro's totals but I'm quite pleased that its my total.
Later learnt that I had just missed Brambling at both SMI and the Pier.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

First of all this morning was a wander along cliff top at Newbiggin north bay. Nowt oot the ordinary
but plenty of the regular Pipits, Wagtails, Linnets, Goldfinches and of course Stonechat.

After bowl of soup with a massive cheese scone at The Drift I walked the road from the end of Druridge Pools to Chevington Burn. There were similar sightings but many more Stonechat.
At the Burn a Kingfisher flew upstream and a large flock of Pinkfoot flew over heading north.
Lots of Common Darters were busy outside the Budge hide, while Red Admiral and Speckled Wood made the most of the sunshine.

Monday, 12 October 2015

It was late this afternoon that I saw there had been some Shorelark activity at Blyth south bay adjacent to the Yacht Club. So off I went to locate the bird feeding amongst the blue containers next to the access road. It was not at all put off by a number of vans going past.

Sunday, 11 October 2015

Having spent a couple of unsuccessful days pursuing a Lapland Bunting on The Leas, South Shields I was up and out with the news of another at St Mary's Island this morning. After assuming the wrong location I eventually got there and was over the moon to see the bird feeding along the gravel path between the two car parking areas. My camera, or me, was unable to cope with the poor light so I had a go at creating my own brighter image.

Sunday, 20 September 2015

Tried to do the responsible thing this morning and complete the tax form.
Five minutes in and there was the first tweet of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Whitburn. I carried on, needs to be done. Then another tweet, and another.
Thats it I'm off.
Parked up and walking down to the field only to be told it flew off ten minutes earlier.
However on reaching the field the bird dropped back in, and I had my first sighting of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Get in.

Thursday, 10 September 2015

After Stewart's comments what better way to start to redress the balance of low blog posting rate by restarting with a Red-footed Falcon sighting.
Having missed yesterdays flurry I sprang into action this morning and arrived at Cresswell to see half a dozen cars parked up and the bird on a straw bale. A first for me.

The falcon stayed about thirty minutes alternating between bales and posts, then after a few seconds on the power line took off northwards and out of sight.
A quick visit to the Ponteland Hide at Hauxley produced only a Common Sandpiper and five Redshanks, one of which just avoided being snatched by a Stoat.

Thursday, 20 August 2015

Just back from a few days camping in Portpatrick. Wanted to renew some old friendships with people and places, and was fortunate to get five days of sunshine.
Had a nice mixture of a wide range of wildlife sightings including Arctic Skua, Manx Shearwater, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Raven, Otter, Red Squirrel, Dolphin, Painted Lady and Grayling.
The Spotted Flycatchers were a delight to watch and I spent an hour in Logan House gardens watching at least ten as they dropped from branches to pick insects from the lawns below. At one time I could see five at the same time.
The Manx Shearwaters were nice to see from Corsewall Point with a SW breeze pushing them closer.
It was just off the point that an otter went by and Dolphins were seen on a couple of days.
I camped at Castle Bay site with Dunskey Castle on the cliff tops which was the haunt of Ravens.
I was surprised at the number of Grayling Butterflies on the cliff top heathers along with well worn Painted Lady.
Wildlife was easier to spot than WiFi spots. On one search, I was advised Bangor was one of the nearest.
On a visit to Logan Botanic gardens I viewed a wildlife photography display where one of the winners was Sam Hood, and I wondered if that was "our Sam" from over here?

Monday, 18 May 2015

Sunday, 17 May 2015

This mornings trip to Fontburn brought some good views of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers as well as Treecreeper and Redpoll.

Then after a pit stop back home I was out again to see the Boldon Flats, Temmincks Stint.
Back through the tunnel and up to East Chevington to watch a Spoonbill, then on way home there was Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, three Barn Owls, one Short eared Owl at Druridge Pools.

Thursday, 23 April 2015

After seeing the early morning tweet that the bird had appeared at St. Mary's Island wetland I hot footed it out of the house and duly saw the American Wigeon.

I was then tipped off that there was a large pod of Dolphins making their way south past the island.
While I have seen the one or two Dolphins before I was taken aback by the numbers involved this
morning. A brilliant scene.

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

A cracking morning for a mission to see Pied Flycatcher turned out well.

As well as the target species I spotted, Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, Redstart, and Nuthatch in the woods.
Travelling onward provided good views of a pair of Dipper, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Wheatear.

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Following a blank visit the previous afternoon I returned to Big Waters yesterday in an attempt to see the Gargeney pair.
The usual greeting of 'the have gone into those reeds beside the small hide' was not encouraging however I settled in.
After well over an hour and seeing Buzzards, Pochard, Sand Martin, Common Sandpiper but no Gargeney, I started to get itchy feet
I was advised to check from the small hide on my way back, which I entered and as I took a seat there were the pair right in front of me.

Monday, 13 April 2015

This morning I was south of the Tyne and so took the opportunity to see if the recently reported Wheatears were still at the start of the pier at South Shields. Before I reached the pier proper, I met Doug @Jarrowbirders watching 4 Wheatears on a small bit of fenced off derelict land.

We parted company and I went a little further along the pier adjacent to where the beach ends, and I saw at least another four colourful individuals

I later heard that Doug had gone 2 or 3 miles south to Jackies beach and found a further six there

Monday, 6 April 2015

A walk along south side of Sweethope Lough brought views of Redpoll and Chiffchaffs with Buzzards over. Later a short walk in Harwood similarly Redpoll, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Linnet, GS Woodpecker.

About me

The wrong side of pension age, I reawakened my earlier interests in bird and widlife watching, with a holiday on The Isle of Mull during summer 2008. Bought a scope to watch eagles and otters and we were not disappointed. So when we got home I started to cover some local haunts and thought it may be worthwhile to put some time in and around the The City of Newcastle and the River Tyne.I also paint pictures, most having some link to football and a selection can be seen at www.fansoffootball.net